what do you guys thinks about this assembled short block 12499106 from sdpc2000.com? I bought reworked vortec heads from sdpc2000.com. they are the ones for .600 lift and for use with roller camshafts $349.95 each. I am going to do the complete roller setup with the gm hotcam. I am basically going to copy the (twister) buildup that chevyhighperformance.com did a while back. I am unsure of the exact issues anyone know what they were? i would like to get them for reference and stuff? I was going to build the 350 h.o. that gm has and copy the power and performance (humble pie) buildup thats out right now in print. they used the vortec heads and hot cam setup. my concern was i dont want to push the bottom end of that particular motor that hard or maybe harder in the future. (nodular crank) also they really dont sell this particular engine as a assembled short block they sell a short block that requires alot of parts and building. meaning that i would more than likey end up buying it complete and ripping it down. Or just buy the zz4 short block and build up... I really dont want to assemble that much of the bottom end i figure if i am down that deep in the engine its foolish to be using medium grade components from the 350 ho... Anyway what do you think? I got a 750 holley double pumper, edelbrock rpm performer air gap intake, headman headers, and now the vortec heads. I think that the bottom end of the 383 short block is built better and that i will have more fun with the 383. hopefully this engine will go in the chassis as easily as the 350 ho would have. i did alot of reasearch on putting that 350 ho in my car and i knew that it was going to be a straight foward install. my concerns are the headman y-pipe and a starter.....thanks alot guys..ryan

Haven't heard too many that have used it. It isn't a "traditional" 383, having 4" bore and 3.80" stroke. The compression would be a little low, but tolerable.

Overall looks like a pretty good piece. Can't tell from the description whether the flexplate is 153 or 168 tooth. The former would be easier to live with, starter wise. The latter would be better for the starter.

I assume you got the Vortec version of the intake.

yes 7516 vortec . 12 3/4 flexplate i think is a 153 tooth? its got a one piece rear seal so i think that means 153. compression is 9:1:1 which is very streetable. 412 hp 466 tq is the outcome of the twister build with the hotcam and 750 dp, and the edl-7516 intake. hows this different than the traditional 383? i am not familiar with them at all...Ryan

383's are a product of the hotrodding world. When factory SBC 400's were built up for more power, they would wipe out main bearings and/or crack the blocks. After piling up a stack of such 400 cranks, some shop somewhere wondered about putting one of those cranks in a 350 block, which were much more plentiful and less prone to cracking. The 400 crank mains are larger than 350 mains, so they were turned down to 350 size - this took care of the ruined 400 bearing surface. The 350 block needed the bores cleaned up, of course, so it was taken out to 4.030". The shop had some special pistons made with the correct pin height for the longer stroke, the resulting displacement was 383. Now "everybody" does them, and brand new cranks with 3.75" stroke and 350 main bearings are available for about what you'd pay to get a 400 crank turned down.

GM sees what's going on, decides to make their own stroker. With a standard 4.000" 350 bore and 3.80" stroke, they also come out with 383 cubic inches. Different but equal, don't you know. So down the road, rebuild is going to require something different than typical aftermarket "383" pistons.

very interesting thanks